Eighteen candidates filed to run in the Feb. 9 primary election for the Oklahoma City Council seats in Wards 1, 3 and 4, and incumbent Councilwoman Nikki Nice is unopposed in Ward 7.

The nonpartisan election will decide who represents Wards 1, 3 and 4 on the Council for the next four-year term, which begins in April. Councilwoman Nice is re-elected without opposition. See a Ward map at okc.gov/WardMap.

Candidates who filed to run for office before Wednesday’s deadline, listed in the order in which they filed, are:

Ward 1

• Shay Varnell
• Jay Sherrill
• Nana Abram Dankwa
• Megan Scott
• Susan Kay Parisi
• Bill Fleming
• Joshua W. Debolt
• Bradley Carter
• Richard Thomas Buchanan

Ward 3

• Allen Swanda
• Jessica Martinez-Brooks
• Barbara Young
• Trey Bishop
• Tim Long
• Kelli Payne

Ward 4

• Todd Stone (incumbent)
• Sam Wargin Grimaldo
• Larry Hopper

Ward 7

• Nikki Nice (incumbent)

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to contest another candidate’s qualifications to the Oklahoma County Election Board.

The City Council has nine members: the Mayor, who is elected citywide, and one member from each of Oklahoma City’s eight Wards. They serve part-time at the head of the City’s Council-Manager form of government. The Mayor’s annual salary is $24,000, and each Council member’s annual salary is $12,000.

About the election

How the election proceeds in each Ward depends on the number of candidates:

• In Ward 7, where only incumbent Councilwoman Nice filed to run, the candidate is automatically elected to office.
• In Wards 1, 3 and 4, where at least three candidates filed to run in each Ward, the Feb. 9 primary election determines whether a runoff on April 6 is necessary.
  • If a candidate earns more than half the votes on Feb. 9, they are elected to office.
  • If no candidate earns more than half the votes on Feb. 9, the two candidates with the most votes advance to a runoff on April 6. The runoff winner is elected to office.

Winners take office April 13.

Recent voter-approved amendments to the Oklahoma City Charter are not yet in effect and do not apply to the 2021 City Council election. The Oklahoma State Election Board’s certification of election results, and the Governor of Oklahoma’s formal acceptance of the City Charter amendments, had yet to occur before the Council called the election.

The 2021 election will take place under existing City ordinances, and federal and state law, like all recent City Council elections.

Voting information

All Oklahoma City voters in Wards 1, 3 and 4 who are registered by Jan. 15 will be eligible to cast a ballot in the Feb. 9 primary election. Voters in those Wards registered at their current address are already eligible.

Visit okc.gov/WardMap to see an interactive Ward map.

To check or update your registration status, use the Oklahoma State Election Board’s Online Voter Portal at ok.gov/elections/ovp. Find your polling place on your voter ID card or using the portal.

To register to vote, use the portal’s voter registration wizard to complete your application online, then print, sign and mail it to your local county election board. You can also download a voter registration application at ok.gov/elections, or get one at your county election board, post offices, tag agencies, libraries and other public locations.

Voters who have disabilities can find more information about voter assistance in Oklahoma at ok.gov/elections.

State law requires proof of identity to vote. Acceptable forms of ID are a voter ID card, driver’s license or another form of ID issued by the federal government, state government or federally recognized tribal government. Voters may also cast a provisional ballot by proving their identity with a signed, sworn affidavit, which is available at the polling station.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot to vote by mail in the Feb. 9 primary election is 5 p.m. Feb. 2, although the U.S. Postal Service recommends requesting it by Jan. 25. You can request an absentee ballot using the voter portal at ok.gov/elections/ovp, or download an absentee ballot request form at ok.gov/elections to print, sign and return to your county election board.

The Postal Service recommends mailing your completed absentee ballot by Feb. 2 if voting by mail. You can also return a completed absentee ballot in person to your local county election board.

Overseas voters, including military members, can get more information about overseas absentee voting at ok.gov/elections.

Early voting is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 4-5 at your local county election board:

• Oklahoma County Election Board, 4201 N Lincoln Blvd., (405) 713-1515
• Cleveland County Election Board, 641 E Robinson Street (Suite 200) in Norman, (405) 366-0210
• Canadian County Election Board, 200 S Bickford Ave. in El Reno, (405) 422-2422
• Pottawatomie County Election Board, 14101 Acme Road in Shawnee, (405) 273-8376.

Regular voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at your usual polling location.

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Media Contact
Kristy Yager
(405) 297-2550
kristy.yager@okc.gov